Arsenal made a mistake to sack Arsene Wenger if they never intended to back Unai Emery in the transfer market.

The Gunners lost 3-1 to Manchester City on Sunday – read 16 Conclusions – to leave them sixth in the Premier League table.

Emmanuel Petit believes “the frustration level must be very high” for Emery, who replaced Wenger as Arsenal manager in the summer.

The Gunners signed just one player in January despite desperately needing reinforcements, with Denis Suarez arriving on loan from Barcelona.

Emery was given no money to spend by the club, whose decision to give Mesut Ozil a new contract last year has left them considerably financially restricted.

Petit wonders quite why Arsenal got rid of Wenger if they knew they could not sufficiently back his replacement.

“The frustration level must be very high for Emery as in only his second transfer window as Arsenal manager, he was told he cannot sign anybody,” Petit told the Irish Independent.

“You look at the money Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City spend and unless you join them and put the cash on the table to compete for the best players, you are going nowhere.

“Tottenham are not spending money, but they are in the position Arsenal were in a few years ago building a stadium, but there is no excuse for Arsenal now.

“If you sack Arsene Wenger and then say to the guy who replaces him you have no money to spend on new players, I would ask what was the point of sacking Wenger in the first place?

“Defensively, Arsenal have not been good enough this season, so I was surprised they did not try to sign defenders in January, but the problems they have will not be solved by signing a player or two.

“When I look at Manchester City and Liverpool, they play with the same style at home as they do away and that is not the case for Arsenal this season.

“This is not a case of mental strength of spirit in my opinion because the performances at home against Tottenham and Chelsea shows what this team is capable of. Then we see them lose at Southampton and West Ham before being smashed by Liverpool at Anfield and I ask why?

“Clearly, the defence is a problem. The better teams are getting through them far too easily and when I hear Emery say he is happy with his defence and he does not need new players in these positions, I’m pretty sure he does not believe this.”